Our bodies are marvelous machines, however, we need to make sure they are running at optimal performance. Did you know that your diet could be affecting your health? You may have been told you have allergies because of where you live, pets, and other environmental items you are exposed to. Have you ever thought about the foods you are eating?
Allergies, sinus problems, and even migranes can and most often are a result of food allergies. Our bodies view certain food items as "invaders" and attack the food item which in turn actually is attacking our body. Our bodies cannot recognize the food item and do not know how to accept it so they see it as a foreign object and try to get rid it by attacking it. Some of the most common food items we find that most people have problems with are: wheat, corn, soy and dairy.
Wheat:
This includes rye, oats, and even spelt.
All baked goods (including bread and pizza crusts)
Pasta, whether egg-free or not
Some baking powders
Most batter-fried foods
Flour-thickened sauces, casseroles, and gravies
Canned soup and chili
Cereal (both hot and cold)
Salad dressings, barbecue sauce, soy sauce and other condiments
Beer
Candy (especially with nougat)
Sausage, meatloaf, and other dishes where breadcrumbs are used as a filler
Corn:
Almost every item we eat have some form of corn product included in the makeup of the food item. Corn syrup
frutose
malt
vanilla extract
sorbitol
baking powder
carmel
vegetable oil
to name just a few items.
Soy:
soy nuts, milk, soy lecithin - used in chocolate, soy flour, soy protein - in energy bars.
Dairy:
butter and most margarines (contain whey, casein, or lactose)
chip dip
most baked items and breads
most flavors of potato chips
cream sauces
cheese
ice cream and some gelato and sherbet
As I read down the list of items, it is amazing how many products have allergy containing ingredients in them.
It is very hard to know all the ingredients in your foods without reading the labels.
A way to find out which if any of these four food items you may allergic to is to eliminate all of them for two weeks. After two weeks, add one of them back at a time and chart how you feel also chart the two weeks while not on them at all. If you experience any of the symptoms coming back, you may need to stay off of the specific food item for 3 - 6 months; this gives your body time to heal and you may be able to introduce the item back at a later date on a limited basis.
Some people may say "I cannnot stay away from dairy or wheat, I love it too much". Which is more important feeling healthier, happier, having more energy and a better immune system or craving a food. As stated earlier, you may be able to have limited amounts of the food again after you give your body some time to heal itself. As your body is attacking this particular food item, it is also comprising your immune system and your health.
There are substitutes that are available such as rice milk,rice cheese, almond milk, almond cheese,gluten free foods (which are very expensive), homemade sauces, soups, specially prepared home baked goods, etc.
After writing this article, I do see a greater emphasis leaning toward eating fresh, whole foods, locally grown, not canned, bottled, frozen or packaged as much as possible then you know what you are eating without any worry and guess work.
That is an article for another time however.
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